Knot-tying device



Aug. 15, 1939. WA. HUFFSTICKLER 2,169,809

KNOT-TYING DEVICE Filed Aug. 6, 1937 6 Sheets-ShedI 2 Q SH01 "my Aug. 15, 1939. w. A.' HUFFSTICKLER 2,169,800

' KNOT-TY-ING DEVICE Filed Aug. s, 1937 e sheets-sheet 3 Q H No: M MJ Allg, l5, 1939A l l w. A. HUFFsTlcKLER I 2,169,800

KNOTfTYING DEVICE l' 'Filed Aug. 6, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 gwucmm Patented` Aug. 15, 1939 STTS zusam KNOT-TYING DEVICE William A. Hufistickler, Chariotte, N. C., assigner 'to Rudisill Machine & Tool Works, Charlotte,

Application August (i, 1937, Serial No. 157,796

ifi Claims.

This invention relates to a hand device for tying a weavers knot.

The primaryl object off the present invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient device for producing a true weaversv knot, and in which novel and improved mechanism is provided to perform the operations for producing said knot.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a `knotter of the above kind embodying a single device for both looping one thread transversely around another thread and for shearing and clamping one end of the rst-named thread, operations which have heretofore been performed by a plurality of'separate and distinctly different means.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a knot tying device in which the knot is partially formed on the shank of a tying bill, and in which means is provided for forcing the partially iormedknot from the shank of the bill to the bill proper, whereby the partially formed knot may be readily stripped from the bill to effect the nal knot forming operation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such means for forcing the partial- 1y formed knot from the shank of the tying bill onto the bill proper, With a tying pin or post arranged to receive the completely formed but loose knot as it is stripped from the bill, so as to hold the loops of the loose knot in proper relation as such knot is tightened and' stripped from said pin or post.

Further and more specific objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in said accompanying drawings, and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred form of the present invention:

Y Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a knot tying device embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a similar view looking at the opposite side of the device and with the leather handle member removed. n

Figure 3 is an elevation looking toward the left `of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view partly in elevation looking toward the right of Figure 1, and partly broken away and in section. Figure 5 isa top plan View of the device as shown in Figure 1.

(Cl. ESQ-3) Figure 6 is a horizontal section on the plane of line 5 6 of Figure l.

Figure 'l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view in which the plane of section varies with respect to different parts in order to more clearly reveal the internal construction.

Figure Sis a View similar to Figure l but with the parts shifted as in an intermediate position of the operating lever or trigger.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 with parts removed in order tov reveal other details of con.- struction, the parts being shifted as inFigure 8.

Figure l() is a transverse vertical section on line iEl-l of Figure 7.

Figure ll is a similar view on line Figure 8.

Figure l2 is a view similar to Figure 7 with the operating lever or trigger shifted still further from the position of Figure 8.

Figure 13 is a view as in Figure 12 with parts removed.

'Figure i4 is a view similar to Figure l2 with the parts shifted as when the movement of the operating lever or trigger is completed.

Figure 15 is a transverse vertical section on line l5-l5 of Figure '7. Y

Figure 16 is an elevational view looking at the inner face of one of the side frame plates and its associated thread clamping slide, together with associated parts of the actuating means for said slide, the thread clamping slide being in the normal position of Figure 1.

Figure i7 is a view similar to Figure 16 showing the threadfclamping slide shifted to thread clamping position as when the movement of the operating lever or trigger is completed as in Figure lll.

Figure 18 is a perspective View ofthe member arranged to engage and force the partially formed knot from the shank of the tying bill onto the tying bill proper, and which also embodies a pin or post to receive the complete but loose knot as it is stripped from the tying bill.

Figure 19 is an ,enlarged transverse section through the thread cutting and clamp-ing members of the device for looping one thread transversely around the other, the plane of section being indicated by line l9--l9 in Figure 21.

Figure 20 is a similar section through the thread cutting and clamping members of the tying bill, the plane of section being indicated by line 2li-20 in Figure 26.

Figures 21, 23 and 25 to 28 inclusive are views H--ll of and illustrates the evolution of the knot.

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the manner in which the threads are initially supported in different planes in the normal condition of the device as in Figures 1 and 21.

Figure 24 is a view similar to Figure 22 illustrating the manner in which one thread is looped transversely around the other thread as in Figure 23.

Figure 29 is an enlarged horizontal section through the pin or post on which the knot is tightened and showing the loose knot in plan, the plane of section being indicated by the line 29-29 in Figure 28; and

Figure 30 shows the form of the final knot produced by the device, but in` loose condition.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures l to 6 inclusive, the main frame of the device which supports the operating mechanism comprises side frame plates 5 and 6, a transverse member 'I of inverted U-shape, and a block 8 arranged within` the member 'l and having a rigid depending arm 9 |The side frame plate 5 has an extension I Il at one end secured by screws II to one sider of the member T, and the side frame plate 6 includes upper and lower members rigidly secured together by screws I2, the lower member having an offset extension I 3 at one end bolted against the outer side of arm 9 as at I4. Rigid with the top of plate 5 near one end is` a horizontal bar I5 having a downturned free end I6 which abuts the plate 6 as, shown more clearly in Figure 4 to space said plates at the end remote from their points of attachment to the member 'l andl arm 9 respectively. The upper member of plate 6 has asimilar horizontal bar at the other end thereoi which is indicated at I1 and which has a downturned end I8 abutting the adjacent portion of the plate 5. A substantial rigid supporting frame is thus provided, and attached to this frame is a handle consisting of a rigid metallic supporting member I9, for a leather handle member 28, having an angular arm 2l secured against the ex-v tension I3 of the lower section of plate 6 by the same bolts which secure said extension I3 to the arm 9 as at I4.

The plates 5 and 6, are provided respectively with opposite slots or notches 22, 23` and 24, 25, the portion between the slots 22 and 23 being tapered substantially to a point at its upper end as at 26, and the portion between the slotsA 24 and 25 having an inwardy horizontal arm or extension 2'1 which is also tapered substantially. to a point at its inner free end that terminates adjacent but spaced inwardly from the plate 5 at a point intermediate the slots 22 and 23* of the latter. The bars I5 and I1 and arm 2l thus provide guards for protection against the operators nger entering the space between the side frame plates and help to guide the threads into the slots 22 and 24 and 23 and 25 respectively. The bottom of slot 22 is substantially lower than the bottom of slot 24, while the slot 23 inclines toward the slot 22 and the bottom of slot 25 is offset toward the slot 24 as respectively shown in Figures 1 and 2. Slidably mounted on the inner face of plate 5 as shown more clearly in Figures 16 and 17 is a thread clamping slide 28 having a deep slot 29 adjacent slot 22 and a shallow slot 30 normally adjacent the bottom of slot 23. At the top of the slot 29 the slide 28 has a projecting portion 3| defining an inclined entrance for the slot 29 and normally positioned to extend across the slot 22 near the top of the latter as shown in Figure 16. Thus,` the shallow slot 24 and the projecting portion 3 nof slide 28 serve to initially support one thread in an elevated position when extended across the frame at the slots 22 and 24. On the other hand, the slots 23 and 25 serve to support another thread at a lower position` in a different vertical plane when extended across the frame within said slots 23 and 25.

A driving member 32 for operating the mechanism is pivotally mounted as at 33 on a spindie formed by an end portion of the lower one of the bolts I4, which bolts extend through the parts; 9 and I3. Member 32 carries a gear rack segment 34, and a lever or trigger 35 is rigidly connected to the member 32 and provides means for rotating said member Il in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1, '7, 8, 12 and 14. Movement of members 32 and 35 is limited as will later become apparent, and a suitable spring 36 carried by the arm 2l and bearing against a pin 31 carried by member 32, is provided for returning the trigger and member 32 to the starting position of Figure l, spring 36 being coiled about a pin or post 38 attached to arm 2| as shown more clearly in Figures l, '7, 8, 12 and 14.

A rotary driven shaft 39 is journaled at one end in the block 8, and secured on this end of shaft 39 within a recess of block 8 is a pinion gear 40 meshing with the rack 34. The other end of shaft 39 forms the shank of a tying bill which comprises two outer jaws 4I' and 42 between which is pivot'ed at 43 a movable jaw 44. The jaw 4I is integral with shaft 39 and jaw 42 has a rearwardly extending portion rigidly attached to shaft 39 as at 45. The pivotal jaw 44 is provided with a rearwardly extending enlargement 46 whose rear end is arranged within a circular opening 4'! provided in the inwardly and transverse extending end` portion 48 of an angular plate whose other end portion 49 is flatly secured' by screws 5D against one side of the U-shaped member l as clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6. The opening 41 is eccentric to shaft 39 and is so formed that when the tying bill is in the positions of Figures 12 and 26 the jaws thereof will be separat'ed as shown, and when the tying bill reaches the positions of Figures 14, 27 and 28 the pivotal jaw 44 will be in substantial register with the outside jaws ll'I and 42 so that the bill assumes a closed position. More particularly, the tying bill is normally .open` as in the position of Figure 5 and in moving from such position to the position of Figure 23l closes and opens. The bill then remains open until it reaches a position slightly past that of Figures l2 and 26 or between the positions of Figures 26 and 2'7, whereupon the bill closes to shear and clamp the thread as illustrat-v ed in Figures 14, 27 and 28.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the shaft 39 is journaled at the outer end of the frame and extends inwardly between the slotted frame plates 5 and 6, with the tying bill arranged at a point intermediate vertical planes respectively intersecting the upper portion of slot 24 and the upper portion of slot 25. Secured by screws 5i to 'the lower section of plate 6 and arranged at the inner edge of said plate E is a bracket 52 to the lower portion of which is pivoted at 53 the lower end of a gear segment 54 arranged for swinging movement in a vertical plane transversely of the frame, an end of the gear segment' 54 being movable through a space 55 between the plate 6 and. bracket 52. Journaled in the upper end of bracket 52 at one end which is pivoted at 6| a movable jaw 62 (see Figurer 19) The arrangement is such that when the gear segment 54 is swung rearwardly or to the left of Figure 4, shaft 56 is rotated to swing mem- ]5 ber; 58 from the position of Figures 1, '1 and 21 to the position of Figures 8 and 23. The normal position of the parts shown in Figures 1, 4 and 21 is effected by means of a torsion spring 63 coiled about' the pivot pin 53 of gear segment 54 and 0s having an Aend engaging. said gear segment 54 as clearly indicated at 64 in Figure 11, the other end of spring 63 engaging in an opening of the lower section .of side frame plate 6 as at 65. Also, the movable or pivoted jaw 62 has a projection 66 11 arranged to engage the transverse bar I5 when thev member 58 'returns to it's normal position for opening thev jaw 62 relative to the jaws 59 and 68. It is well to here note that when the thread, A is initially extended across the frame and sup- 301y ported in an elevated position in the slot 24 and the upper portion of slot 22 by the projection 31 ofslide 28, the portion of such thread A extending between the side plates 5 and 6 will be adjacent and alined with the space between the jaws 59s and 68 and the jaw 62 as shown in Figure 21. Thus,vv the thread A will be looped around the thread B by the member 58 when the latter is swung fromr the normal position of Figure 21 to the position of Figure 23 which respectively cor- Figure 8.- It will of course be further understood that at this time the other thread Bis supported in a diiferent vertical plane and at a lower elevation in the bottom of slots 23 and 25, the Athread B extending behind the bill and over its shaft or shank as also shown in Figure 21. In traveling from the position of Figure 7 to the p'sition of Figure 8, the member 58 carries the ladjacent portion of thread A over the, projection 5r-3`fjof slide 28V so that such adjacent portion of thread A may enter and lower in the slot 22 of plate 5 and slot 28 `of slide 28. Still further, it wiilebe understood that the threads are laid across thidevice so that the tail ends of such threads are'ithose which extend outwardly or rearwardly p 661" acam surface. Pivotally and slidably mounted at on'end is an actuating lever arm 69 for gear sg'nent 54, the mounting of such actuating armv comprising a pin carried by the arm 9 of block 8-`and extending through a longitudinal elon- Ggigatd slot 1I in one end of said actuating arm 69.v The other end of arm 69 is arranged to engage theedgeof the member of segment gear 54 provided with' the faces 61 and 68, so that when the arm y 69fi"`s swung upwardly it will have a cam action on yftli-inclined face 61 so as to swing the gear segn'e'nt 54 rearwardly from the normal inward or fdrward position thereof to the position of Fig-r u'- A11, thereby rotating the member 59 from the `pcs'tion of Figure 'l to the position of Figures 8 y'ffan'd "11.f Further upward movementof actu- Secured on the other or inner end respond to the positions of Figures 1 and 7 andY ating arm 69 will result in maintaining the member 58 in the position of Figures 8 and 1l while the adjacent end of arm 69 is riding on the face 68 of gear segment 54, and until the end of arm 69 is elevated suflciently to ride off of the face 68 and out of engagement with the gear segment 54 as shown in Figures 12 and 13. When the latter occurs, the parts 54 and 58 are allowed to instantaneously return to normal position under the inuence of spring 63. The arm 69 is operatively connected with the member 32, and for this purpose the pin 31 of member 32 projects rearwardly into an Vangular elongated slot 12 of said arm 69 as shown more clearly in Figures 9 and 13. The angular form of slot 12 is such as' to permit slight further movement of member 32 to its final posin tion of Figure 14`after the free end of arm 69 has been raised to its upper limit of movement after disengaging from the gear segment 54. In order to permit the actuating arm 69 to return to its normal position upon return of member 32 and trigger 35 to their normal position, the arm 69 is yieldingly urged to the left of Figure 9 or toward the gear segment 54 by means of a spring 13 attached to the outer end of the frame and bearing at its free lower end against the adjacent end of arm 69asshown in several of the views, particularly Figure 9. In other words, when the arm 69 lowers, its inner end will ride downwardly in a groove 14 provided in the adjacent side of gear segment 54 as shown in Figure l1, the spring 13 yieldingly allowing the arm 69 to bodily shift outwardly or to the right of Figure 9 as permitted by the pin and slot mounting 10 and 1|. As soon as the free end of arm 69 passes beneath the gear segment 54 the spring 13 urges said arm 69 to the left of Figure 9 in position to again engage the faces 61 and 68 when arm 69 is raised again. Thus, the member 58 is actuated and then released for instantaneous return to normal position during and before completion of the operation of trigger 35, and arm 69 returns to its initial position upon release of the trigger and return of the parts operated by the latter to normal position.

The operating means for the thread clamping slide 28 includes a lever arm 15 pivoted at 16 by -one of its ends on a post carried by the arm 9 of 'block 8, the actuating arm 15 having a longitudi- :nal elongated slot 11 of angular form engaged by the portion of pin 31 projecting to the forward side of member 32. This actuating arm 15 is provided at its free end with a rigid pin 18 which freely extends through an inclined elongated slot 19 in a depending extension 88 of the slide 28. The pin 18 is normally positioned at the bottom of the slot 19 so that initial movement of trigger :35 and upward movement of arm 15 does not ycause shifting of slide 28. However, upon further upward movement of arm after pin 18 has :reached the top of slot 19, the slide 28 will be shifted upwardly and laterally to the position of .Figure 11 so as to clamp the threads A and B between said slide 28 and the adjacent side frame plate 5 as required during the nal knot tying operations. The lateral movement of slide 28,

. when it is raised, is effected by attaching said slide 28 to the frame plate 5 by means of a pin 8l which loosely extends through an inclined elongated slot 82 of slide 28, thus permitting pivotal :and sliding movement of slide 28 relative to side frame plate 5. It is here noted that during the initial movement of trigger from the position of vFigure 7 to the position of Figure 8,' the arm 15 will'be raised' to the position shown in Figure 8' The arrangement is such that upon movement 'partially formed knot wherein a lateral lug 83 provided on the free end of arm 15 is disposed in the path of the pivoted jaw 62 of member 58 for engaging said pivoted jaw 62 and closing the latter as the member 58 reaches its position of Figures 8 and 23. When the pivoted jaw 92 is thus closed, the thread A will be cut and clamped, the tail end of thread A being freed and the new end of said thread A being clamped and held between the jaws 59 and 62 of member 58 as shown in Figure 25. Still further, the angular form of the slot 11 is such that the pin 31 will effect a slight lowering movement of arm 15 after jaw 62 has been thus closed, so as to interfere in no way with the instantaneous subsequent return of member 58 to its normal position of Figure 7 when the end of arm 89 has cleared the gear segment 54 as in Figure 12. Still further movement of trigger 35 will then, due to the form of slot 11, operate to further raise the arm 15 as required to cause actuation of slide 28 from the position of Figure 16 to the position of Figure 17.

As shown clearly in Figures 26 and 27, and as will hereinafter be more clearly described, the initial knot forming operations are performed so that a partially formed knot is disposed on the shaft 39 or the shank of the tying bill behind the latter. Consequently, I provide means for forcing this partially formed knot from the shaft 39 or the shank of the tying bill onto the tying bill proper, so that the partially completed knot may be readily subsequently stripped from the tying bill as required for effecting the nal knot forming operation. This means includes a wire member of the form shown in Figure 18 attached by its end 84 as at 85 to the inner end of a lever 88 which is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 81 within a U-shaped bracket 88 suitably secured, as by welding, upon the horizontal intermediate portion of the inverted U-shaped frame member 1. The outer end of lever 88 is loosely pivoted as at 89 to the adjacent end of a bell crank lever 99 which is also pivoted within the bracket 88. One end of bell crank lever 99 extends downwardly at the outer end of the frame and has one end of a rod 9| pivotally attached thereto as at 92. Rod 9| extends inwardly over the pivot pin 19 of actuating arm 15 and has a lateral enlargement 93 at its free inner end which projects within the open central portion of member 32.

of member 32 to a position slightly farther than that illustrated in Figure l2 and when the parts have operated to assume the position of Figure 27, member 32 will engage the lateral enlargement 93 of rod 9| so as to force rod 9| outwardly or to the right of Figure 14 and thereby swing levers 90 and 86 to the position shown in Figures 14 and 28, whereby the transversely extending portion 94 of the member shown in Figure 18 will engage the loop, formed in thread A and constituting a partially formed knot, so as to force said partially formed knot inwardly off of the shaft 39 or the shank of the tying bill onto said tying bill proper. This is done in order that the may be subsequently readily stripped off of the tying bill to the position of Figure 28 for completing the knot and permitting tightening of said knot as it is removed from the device. The arrangement is also such that when the member 32 is returned to normal position by spring 36, said member 32 will engage the enlargement 93 of rod 9| and move said rod 9| to the left of Figure 14 for returning the parts 90 and 86 to normal position and thereby returning the wire member of Figure 18 also to normal position. This wire member of Figure 18 is preferably constructed with a depending portion 96 that extends downwardly from the forward end of the transverse end portion 84, an upwardly extending portion 91 extending upwardly in diverging relation to and from the lower end of the portion 96, a further depending portion 98 extending downwardly from the upper end of the portion 91, the portion 95 extending horizontally and laterally from the lower end of portion 98, and an end 99 extending upwardly from` the horizontal portion 95. When this wire member is attached to the lever 86 as shown and described, the portions 91 and 98 are located adjacent the frame plate between its slots 22 and 23, the thread B being permitted to pass down into the slot 23 between the members 96 and 91. Also, the horizontal portion 95 extends transversely beneath and closely adjacent.

the shaft 39 near the point where the tying bill is located, the pin or end portion 99 projecting upwardly at the rear side of shaft 39 and behind the tying bill. As shown clearly in several of the views, such as Figure 28, the end portion or pin 99 is of a length to project considerably higher than the tying bill when the latter is disposed to project upwardly. Thus, when this wire member is shifted from the position of Figure 7 to the position of Figure 14, the partially formed knot will be forced by the horizontal portion 95 inwardly off of the shaft 39 and onto the tying bill proper, and the end portion of pin 99 will be located to receive the completed knot as it is completed and stripped from the tying bill, with saidl end or pin 99 disposed between the loops of the knot for holding them in proper relation while the completed knot is being subsequently tightened and iinally stripped from the device by the operator.

It is to be understood, as well as appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the proper timing of the device will be in accordance with the following description of the operation of the mechanism, the proportions and form of the parts being such that the device will operate as so described.

In using the present device, the operator takes hold of the device by inserting the fingers of the left hand through the handle member 20, with the side frame plate 5 facing in a general direction toward the operator and with the thumb of his left hand in position to engage the trigger lever 35. The threads A and B to be joined are grasped with the right hand and extended across the device on respectively opposite sides of the bar 21 and the portions of the side frame plates 5 and 6 respectively dispose between the slots 22 and 23 and the slots 24 and 25, the tails a and b passing out through the slots 24 and 25 respectively. Thus, one thread A extends transversely on a horizontal elevated plane in a position to be engaged between the xed jaws 59 and 89 and the movable jaw 83 of the member 58 as soon as the latter begins its swinging movement from the position oi'Figures 1, 7 and 2l to the position of Figures 8 and 23.- As will be apparent, the thread A lies in a vertical plane inwardly or in front of the tying bill as well as above the latter, the body of the thread A projecting outwardly through the upper portion of slot 22 over projection 3| of slide 28, and the tail of said thread A projecting outwardly through the slot 24. The other thread B is extended in a similar manner through and between the slots 23 and 25,*across `the shank of the tying bill as well as@ behind the latter on a lower plane than the thread A, as also shown in Figure 21. Thus positioned, the body of thread B extends outwardly through slot 23 and the tail thereof extends outwardly of slot 25. With the threads thus positioned in the device, the operator engages the trigger lever 35 with the thumb of his left hand and presses the same downwardly and inwardly to effect the cycle of operation now to be described in detail.

Upon the initial movement oi the trigger 35, the driving member 32 is rotated outwardly or to the right of Figures 1 and 7 so as to cause upward movement of lever arm 09 which, due to its caming action on the inclined face or edge portion 6l of gear segment Ell causes the latter to swing rearwardly from the position of Figures 7 and 10 to the position of Figures 8 and l1, thereby rotating the member 58 from the position of Figures 7 and 21 to the position of Figures 8 and 23. In swinging in this manner, the member 58 engages the thread A-and carries it transversely around the thread B tothereby form a loop |00 whose bight engages the thread B at the forward side of the tying bill as clearly shown in` Figures 23 to 25` inclusive. The open ends of this loop |00 thus extend on the inner side of the thread B, and during this step the lever arm 'i5 has also been elevated so that when the member 50 has completed its swinging movement the lug 83 of lever arm'i5has engaged and closed the movable jaw 02 of the member 58 so as to shear off the tail end a of thread A and clamp the new end of said thread A as shown in Figure 25. During this operation, the threads are held by the fingers of the operator under slight tension, but permitting the thread A to be drawn through the slot 22 to furnish the necessary length for movement of the thread to the position shown in Figure 23. During the above movement of the driving member 32, the shaft 39 has been rotated so as to carry the tying bill around from the position of Figures 15 and 21 to the position of Figure 23 against the loop |00, and then to the position of Figure 25 wherein the tying bill is disposed against both end portions of the loop |00 with the remaining portion of said loop |00 partially coiled about the shank of the tying bill.

The next step consists in giving further inward movement to the trigger lever 35 so that the lever arm 'l5 is slightly lowered to disengage its lug 83 from the movable jaw 52 of member 50, due to the action of pin 3l in slot 'll of said lever arm l5. While this is taking place, the lever arm 69 has been moving idly upwardly along the face or edge portion 08 of gear segment 50 and finally disengages from gear segment 5i as shown in Figures 12 and 13, thereby allowing the member 58 to be instantaneously returned to normal position as in Figure 12, under the influence of spring 63 and through the actuation of gear pinion 5l and shaft 50 by gear segment Fal. When this takes place, the end of thread A is carried around the tying bill and then under and around the thread B, the tension of the thread A preventing return of member 58 quite to its normal position so that the end of thread A is still gripped or clamped by the jaws of member 58 as shown in Figure 26. During this operation the tying bill has turned to the position of Figure 26 against the thread B with the latter extended in a plane between the jaws of the tying bill, and the loop |00 has been completely moved onto the shank of the tying bill and further coiled therearound as also clearly shown in Figure 26.

At this time, it will be noted that the ends of loop |00 are arranged on the shank of the tying bill between the latter and the horizontal portion and the vertical pin 99 of the wire member shown in Figure 18, although the horizontal portion 95 extends between the tying bill and the bight of loop |00. Further inward movement of trigger lever 35 causes the tying bill to rotate from the position of Figure 26 to the position of Figure 27, during which movement the movable jaw 40 of the tying bill has been closed to shear and clamp the thread B as illustrated in said Figure 2'?, freeing the tail end b of said thread B as shown. This step of the operation allows a little slack in thread A so that the member 58 can move the slight distance necessary to complete its return to normal position, whereupon the projection 66 of the movable jaw $2 of member 58 engages the cross bar I5 to open said movable jaw 82 and release the end of thread A as shown in Figure 27. Also, during this step, the lever arm 15 has been moved to shift the clamping slide 28 from its position of Figure 16 toward its position of Figure 17, thereby clamping and tensioning the threads where they pass inwardly through the slots 22 and 23. As hereinbefore mentioned, the looping of thread A about the thread B when carried from the position of Figure 21 to the position of Figure 23 resulted in carrying the thread A over the projection 3| of slide 28 and down to the bottom of slot 22. Upon further and complete movement of trigger lever 35 inwardly, the end of thread B is carried around the ends or side portions of loop |00 and the pin 99, and the clamping slide 28 is Figure 18 to the position of Figure 14, thereby ejecting the partially formed knot consisting of the coiled lloop |00 from the shank of the tying bill onto said tying bill proper. Thus, the partially completed knot is positioned to be readily stripped from the tying bill by the operator, which act results in completing the knot due to the fact that the tying bill draws the end of thread B around the loop |00 to form a second loop |01 in the thread Bv and to draw said end of thread B between the other end portion of loop IUI and the loop |00 as shown clearly in Figure 28.` When the knot is thus completed and stripped from the tying bill, it is transferred onto the pin 99 with the latter extending between the loops |00 and |0I as shown in Figure 28 so as to maintain said loops in proper position or relation when the knot is subsequently tightened and stripped from the pin 99 by pulling the threads A and B. The knot is almost completely tightened before it leaves the free end of pin 90, and there is no danger of the thread slipping so as to result in untying of the knot at this time because the end of thread B` which is drawn around the loop |00 to form the loop i0! is passed under the opposite portion of said loop IOI or between the latter and the loop |00, as required to prevent slipping and to produce a true weavers knot. The final position of the tying bill is shown in Figure 28, in which position the end of thread B is still held by the tying bill to additionally guard against slipping of the knot while it is being tightened. As soon as the knot is completely tightened and stripped from the pin S9, a slight pull will result in pulling the end of thread B out of the tying bill without the necessity of opening the pivoted jaw of said tying bill to release the same. Similar disengagement of the threads is effected from between the slide 28 and frame plate 5, although the threads are positively released almost immediately when the trigger lever S is released and the parts are returned to normal position by springs 3B and 13. When the trigger' lever 35 returns to normal position the tying bill is rotated back to its initial position and the lever arms 69 and 'l5 are lowered. The lever arm 65 is projected to operative position by spring 'i3 as soon as it passes the lower portion of segment gear 5d at the bottom of slot 'M in the latter. The return of the wire member I8 and levers 86 and 90 to normal position is effected by engagement of the right hand portion of driving member 32, as viewed in Figure 7, with the enlargement 93 of rod 9i. In other words, as the driving member 32 swings to the left of Figure 7 back to its normal position the right hand side portion of said member 32 engages the adjacent end of enlargement S3, and upon further movement of member 32 to the left the rod S is pulled to the left for swinging the levers 96 and 86 from the position of Figure 14 back to the position of Figure 13, thereby shifting the wire member of Figure 18 from the position of Figures 14 and 28 back to the normal positon of Figure 13. The form of the completed knot before being tightened will be readily apparent from Figures 28 to 30 inclusive.

From the above description and the drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a novel and useful device having means for supporting two threads in extended position across the device and at different elevations in the respective slots 22-24 and 2li-25, the threads initially lying at opposite sides of the tying bill and the lowermi most thread extending across the shank of the tying bill behind the latter. The implement is also provided with means for carrying the higher thread transversely around the lower thread to form a loop, which means includes a thread engaging member which is also provi-ded with means to shear and clamp said higher thread. The higher thread is supported in position to be engaged between the jaws of this member as it moves to loop said higher thread transversely around the lower thread. Also, means is provided for rotating the tying bill to engage the sides of the loop formed in the first thread and for coiling said loop about its shank with the bight of said loop engaging the second thread. The tying bill is provided with cutting and clamping means and the jaws thereof are opened and brought into a position where they engage the tail of the second thread to thereby cut and clamp the same. Means including slide 28 is also provided for clamping the body ends of the two threads to the device during the formation of the knot, and a device including the member detailed in Figure 18 is provided to move the partially formed knot off of the shank of the tying bill onto said tying bill proper so that said partially formed knot may be readily stripped from the tying bill as required to complete the knot. The device for looping the rst-named thread about the second-named thread is arranged to carry an end of the loop of said rst-named thread around the tying bill and behind the post or pin 99 upon which the completed knot is subsequently tightened. The end of the second thread is held by the tying bill so that when the partially completed knot is stripped from the tying bill the second thread is looped around the pin upon which the knot is tightened as well as around the side portions of the loop formed in the first-named thread, and the end of the loop formed in said second-named thread is drawn between the other portion of the latter loop and the loop in the first-named thread when the partially formed knot is stripped from the tying bill so as to complete the knot subsequent to shearing of the tails of the threads by the tying bill and the movable member which loops the rst thread around the second thread. As the knot is tightened and removed from the machine, the threads are properly joined together by a true weavers knot.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Obviously, various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction illustrated and described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

l. In a knotter, the combination of guides for supporting a rst thread and a second thread, a single member operable for doubling said iirst thread around said second thread over and then under the latter to form a loop, and a tying bill positioned to rotate against said loop and arranged to cut and clamp one end of said second thread, and to loop said second thread around said rst loop and draw said clamped end of said second thread between said first loop and said second thread to form a true weavers knot when said first loop is stripped from said tying bill.

2. In a knotter, in combination, a tying bill having a shank and provided with cutting and clamping means, means for supporting a thread across the shank of said bill, a single member operable for looping a second thread around Said rst thread, means for rotating said bill to engage the sides of said loop and coil the latter around said shank, means to cause the bill to cut and clamp the tail of said first thread upon further rotation of said bill, and means to move Said coiled loop from said shank onto said bill, whereby said loop may be stripped from said bill to cause the latter to loop said first thread around said loop of said second thread and to draw the cut end of said first thread between the latter and said first loop.

3. In a knotter, in combination, a tying bill having a shank and provided with cutting and clamping means, means for supporting a thread across the shank of said bill, means for looping a second thread around said rst thread, means for rotating said bill to engage the Sides of said loop and coil the latter around said shank, means to cause the bill to cut and clamp the tail of said iirst thread upon further rotation of said bill, and means to move said coiled loop from said shank onto said bill, whereby said loop may be stripped from said bill to cause the latter to loop said rst thread around said loop of said second thread and to draw the cut end of said rst thread between the latter and said rst loop, said loop moving means including a movable loop-engaging member passing beneath said shank and having a pin extending upwardly therefrom adjacent the bill to receive the knot as it is completed and stripped from the bill and to engage the knot between its loops for holding the latter in proper relation as the knot is tightened and stripped from said pin.

f 4. In a knotter, in combination, a tying bill having cutting and clamping means, means for supporting. a thread across said bill, means for looping a second thread around said iirst thread with the sides of the loop extending beyond said rst thread, and means for rotating said bill to engage the sides of said loop and upon further rotation of said bill to cause the same to cut and clamp the tail of said first thread, said thread looping means including a single member movable to carry the second thread around the first thread' and provided with cutting and clamping means.

5. In a knotter, in combination, a tying bill having cutting and clamping means, means for supporting a thread across said bill, means for looping a second thread around said first thread with the sides of the loop extending beyond said first thread, means for rotating said bill to engage the sides of said loop and upon further rotation of said bill to cause the same to cut and clamp the tail of said first thread, said tying bill being arranged to loop the first thread around said first loop and then draw the tail of said rst thread between the latter and said rst loop for completing a true weavers knot when the partially formed knot is stripped from said bill, and a pin arranged to receive the knot as it is completed and stripped from said bill with said pin extending between the loops of the knot to hold them in position while being subsequently tight-` ber when moved to loop the second thread aroundY said first thread, means for rotating said bill to engage the sides of said loop and upon further rotation of said bill to cause the same to cut and clamp the tail of said rst thread, and means for operating a jaw of said movable member for cutting the tail of said second thread.

7. A knot tying device comprising in comblnation, a trigger, a shaft having a tying bill, means operatively connecting said shaft to said trigger, a second shaft at an angle to the rstnamed shaft, a thread looping member carried by said second shaft and provided with a bill provided with cutting and clamping jaws, means operatively connecting said trigger with said second-named shaft, means to return said trigger and said first-named shaft, and means to return said second-named shaft and said member' carried thereby.

8. In a knotter, in combination, means for supporting a thread, means including a movable thread engaging member for looping a second thread around said first thread and for holding said loop in position, said thread engaging member having thread cutting and clamping jaws, a tying bill having cutting and clamping means and across which said first thread is supported, means for rotating said bill to engage the sides of said loop while being held in position by said jaw of said thread engaging member to cut and clamp the tail of said second thread after the tying bill engages the sides of said loop, and means to cause said tying bill to cut and clamp the tail of said first thread upon further rotation of said tying bill.

9. In a knotter, in combination, a driving member, an operating trigger therefor, a shaft carrying a tying bill and operatively connected to said driving member, a second shaft arranged at right angles to said first-named shaft and carrying a thread looping member having a bill composed of thread cutting and clamping jaws, and means operatively connecting said driving member with said second-named shaft.

10. In a, knotter, in combination, a driving member, an operating trigger therefor, a shaft carrying a tying bill and operatively connected to said driving member, a second shaft arranged at right angles to said first-named shaft and carrying a thread looping member having a bill composed of thread cutting and clamping jaws, means operatively connecting said driving member with said second-named shaft, a thread clamping slide, and means operatively connecting said driving member with said thread clamping slide.

11. In a knotter, in combination, a driving member, an operating trigger therefor, a shaft carrying a tying Vbill and operatively connected to said driving member, a second shaft arranged at right angles to said first-named shaft and carrying a thread looping member having a bill composed of thread cutting and clamping jaws, means operatively connecting said driving member with said second-named shaft, said tying bill and thread looping member being arranged and operated to partially form a weavers knot on said tying bill, means-for partially ejecting said partially formed knot from said tying bill including a member engageable with the partially formed knot and operatively connected to said driving member, and means to return the parts to normal position.

12. In a knotter, in combination, a driving member, an operating trigger therefor, a shaft carrying a tying bill and operatively connected to said driving member, a second shaft arranged at right angles to said first-named shaft and carrying a thread looping member having a bill composed of thread cutting and clamping jaws, means operatively connecting said driving member with said second-named shaft, said tying bill and thread looping member being arranged and operated to partially form a weavers knot on said tying bill, means for partially ejecting said partially formed knot from said tying bill including a member engageable with the partially formed knot and operatively connected to said driving member, and means to return the parts to normal position, said knot engaging member including a pin arranged adjacent the tying bill to receive the knot asv it is stripped from the tying bill and completed, with said pin extending between the loops of the knot to hold them in position during subsequent tightening of the thread engaging member, means to operate other rotation of said bill to cause the same to cut and clamp the tail of said second thread, the bill of said thread looping member having cutting and clamping jaws, and means to operate a jaw of said thread looping member to cut and clamp the tail of said rst thread.

14. In a knotter, in combination, a rotary tying bill having means for cutting and clamping a thread, means for looping a second thread around said rst thread including a thread engaging member having cutting and clamping means, said thread looping means including operating mechanism for its thread engaging member arranged to maintain said member in loop retaining position for a predetermined period of time,

means for rotating said tying bill to engage the sides of said loop and produce a partially formed knot during said predetermined time, means to operate a jaw of said thread looping member for cutting and clamping the looped thread while holding the loop in position and after the tying bill has engaged the sides of the loop to produce the partially formed knot, means to return the thread looping member upon further rotation of said tying bill, and means to cause the tying bill to cut and clamp the tail of the rst thread upon such further rotation of said tying bill.

WILLIAM A. HUFFSTICKLER. 

